A initiative/programme providing a range of approaches to help support older people with community safety
When? 2022-2024 with Big Local involvement. Ongoing beyond 2024.
Partners: VANEL. Capacity Buildings Ltd. Supported by Police and other community partners
Keeping Older People Safe (KOPS)is a programme which does exactly what it sounds like – it’s about delivering initiatives that focus on older people and focus on their safety and wellbeing.
Themes covered by KOPS include crime prevention; personal or home safety; scams and fraud awareness; fire prevention; preparing for emergencies, and accessing support and wellbeing services.
KOPS is a partnership between VANEL, Capacity Buildings Ltd and Big Local North Cleethorpes. All partners have used a range of funding sources to contribute to the programme and initiatives vary month by month. And KOPS works with other agencies, especially the Neighbourhood Policing Teams, but also Ward Councillors, Humberside Fire and Rescue, Trading Standards and other delivery partners in the community sector.
What does KOPS do?
KOPS is essentially the ‘brand name’ under which partners try to deliver a number of different approaches to keeping older people safe by providing information, resources and more.
Whilst the project is led by VANEL and Capacity Buildings Ltd, it has had ongoing support from Big Local North Cleethorpes for Cleethorpes focused parts of the programme.
It also relies on working with community safety partners such as Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue Services or Trading Standards. It also utilises partners who may run community centres or social clubs or support older people directly – such as the Later Life Partnership; Age UK; Carelink; Friendship at Home; Churches and more.
Some components of the programme include:
– The Stay Safe guides/booklets and website
– No Cold Caller Window Stickers
– Community Safety events – or attending other events and promoting safety messages
– Scams/Fraud Awareness – with the support of FraudWatch and others
– KOPS newsletters – printed and online
– Provision of free items of personal or households safety equipment to more vulnerable people.
– Mask distribution during covid
– “Message in a Bottle” distribution – funded by Lions
– Supporting Neighbourhood Watch groups and Neighbourhood Networking all across NEL
Each initiative requires funding and might reach different communities and neighbourhoods across North East Lincolnshire depending upon where the funding comes from. Where those areas are Cleethorpes, Big Local North Cleethorpes tries to get involved.
KOPS in North Cleethorpes
KOPS is an ongoing programme but a wide range of the measures have been directly delivered into Sidney Sussex and Croft Baker wards and the North Cleethorpes communities.
Numerous Scams/Fraud awareness talks have been delivered to groups with North Cleethorpes including at Corpus Christi Church; St Peters Church; 82 Grimsby Road; Nottingham Building Society; Carr Lane Social Club; at Cleethorpes Station; at Sussex Pavilion; St Andrews Church and other venues and to local groups.
Free items of community safety equipment have been provided to 100+ households across North Cleethorpes from programmes funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner or through Sidney Sussex Ward Councillor funding.
Community Safety Day held at Sussex Pavilion 2024. Sharing Community Safety advice at Older Peoples Advice Days each year at the Memorial Hall.
Message in a bottles widely distributed across North Cleethorpes. Along with 100s of “no cold caller” window stickers and 100s of “Stay Safe” guides.
Community Shredders were invested in for Age UK Cleethorpes and at Sussex Pavilion and 82 Grimsby Road. These are used by the KOPS programme to promote avoiding identity theft.
Two of the KOPS newsletters were specifically funded by Big Local North Cleethorpes to share messages across North Cleethorpes.
We’ve hosted as hoc Police surgeries and drop-ins at 82 Grimsby Road since 2021 and from late 2024 a new series of monthly Community Safety drop ins with the Police were specifically added to the calendar at the Big Local hub at 82 Grimsby Road.
Ongoing support for local Neighbourhood Watch Groups who are proactive in their communities.
KOPS, as a programme, has, alongside Big Local North Cleethorpes, shared community safety support for 100s of households in North Cleethorpes specifically since it began.
More information
KOPS has its own website at www.keepingolderpeoplesafe.com
Further information from VANEL